Valerie Hoff DeCarlo, a former CNN anchor whose journalism career was cut short by a social media controversy, has died from lung cancer at the age of 62. Her husband, Derrick DeCarlo, confirmed the news to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week.
A Distinguished Career in Broadcast Journalism
DeCarlo was a prominent face on CNN for most of the 1990s, spending seven years with the network. She initially joined as a writer and reporter before rising to become a live anchor. Her tenure covered significant global events, including providing live coverage of the Gulf War and reporting from New York City during the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.
In 1999, she moved to Atlanta's NBC-affiliate station, 11Alive, for better pay, where she worked for 18 years. Her husband described her as "a strong, capable, loving woman and a wonderful mother" and "a force with everything she did."
The Twitter Exchange That Forced a Resignation
DeCarlo's long career in television news came to an abrupt end in April 2017 following a private Twitter direct message exchange. Acting on behalf of 11Alive, she contacted a social media user to request permission to use a video clip showing a white police officer punching a black motorist.
The user, a black man, had used the phrase "news n***as" in other tweets to describe journalists. In her message to him, DeCarlo repeated the racial slur, writing: "please call this news n****." The private message was quickly shared publicly and went viral.
Initially given a two-week suspension, DeCarlo was soon forced to resign. She later filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the station, which was settled out of court. Reflecting on the incident at the time, she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "It was incredibly stupid, but I can't take it back now." A close friend, Kelly Crawford, said, "She was obviously disappointed."
Later Life, Health Battles, and Legacy
After leaving broadcast journalism, DeCarlo focused on a travel and food blog she had started before her CNN career and became a successful day trader. Her husband stated she never had a losing year in trading.
DeCarlo was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She underwent a double mastectomy and recovered, later becoming a breast cancer advocate. Tragically, the cancer returned in 2025 "like a freight train," her husband said. This time, it was diagnosed as stage-4 lung cancer.
Former CNN colleague Kathleen Kennedy recalled DeCarlo's enduring wit, even in the face of her illness. "When she told me she had lung cancer, she was very matter-of-fact about getting her affairs in order. Then she said, 'You know. Maybe I should just cash in my 401(k) and live it up!'" Kennedy said.
Valerie Hoff DeCarlo is survived by her husband, Derrick, and her two sons, Nicholas and Jehnya.
